This ongoing project about the working women of rural Uganda began in Gulu at a quarry. Nearly all the workers who break large rocks into gravel size pellets are female. They earn 1000 UGX ($0.30) for every jerry can of gravel that they fill. This is extremely difficult labor and dangerous work. I placed the women in front of mosquito netting, allowing them to be noticed, appreciated, and valued for their labor and economic contributions. Beatrice Lamwaka, a well-known Ugandan author, is providing the essential African female viewpoint on this project. Theirs are voices that are rarely heard.
Dan Nelken is a visual artist, educator, lecturer, & documentary storyteller based in NYC. He specializes in portrait-based photography that offers a window into communities that often exist outside of the cultural mainstream. His portraits aspire to accentuate individuality while acknowledging the importance of group behaviors, habits, and rituals.
His work has been exhibited and published internationally & is both public and private collections, including the MAST Foundation, Bologna, IT, The International Center of Photography, NYC, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Vontobel Art Collection.
Awards 2021
Meitar Awards For Excellence in Photography, an international juried exhibition: Top 20
Finalists; Exhibition in PHOTOIS:RAEL, Tel-Aviv, IS
2020
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2020, an international juried exhibition: Finalist: Two
photographs from HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda [National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
15th Julia Maragaret Cameron Award First Prize “The Feminine Universe” Quarry Workers
BarTur PhotoAward: Shortlisted
2019
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards 2019: Unyielding Gaze: First Prize: “HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda”
Tokyo International Foto Awards: Bronze Prize: Portraits: HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda
13 Pollux Awards: People Category Series: First Prize for HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda
Athens Photo Festival 2019: Shortlisted for Portrait Series: “HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda
International Photography Grant: Portrait Nominee: HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda:
2018
Photo Review Best of Show 2018: Third Prize, Juried by Sarah Meister: Akello Shara: Age: 13 Carries a 5 gallon jerry-can of water (41 lbs) for home use twice a day.
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2018: Selected: Akello Shara: Age: 13 Carries a 5 gallon jerry-can of water (41 lbs) for home use twice a day.
2006
Critical Mass: “Till the Cows Come Home: County Fair Portraits”
Aperture, Portfolio Picks Honorable Mention: “Till the Cows Come Home: County Fair Portraits”
The Rhubarb-Rhubarb free book competition: “Till the Cows Come Home: County Fair Portraits”
COLLECTIONS
The Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, TX
International Center of Photography, New York, NY
Haverford College Fine Art Photography Collection, Haverford, PA
Beth Hatefutsoth Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
MAST Foundation, Bologna, IT
The Center for Photography Kingston
Vontobel Art Collection, Zurich,CH
W. M. Hunt Collection Dancing Bear, New York City, NY
